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have been brought forward for the purpose of showing that science, to a very 
great extent, agrees with those Scripture quotations. Those questions have 
not been given here in a dogmatical manner for scientists to accept, because 
they are believed to be inspired ; but to show that they agree with what is 
held by a great number of eminent scientists. During the last three 
Sundays, I have had the pleasure of listening to three sermons that 
have been preached by Dr. Benjamin Ward Richardson, F.R.S., who is 
acknowledged to be an eminent scientific man, and one who has studied the 
subject of evolution. Speaking on that subject, he ended one of his 
addresses by saying, “ This much, at least, I do believe, that I am a 
living soul.” So far, then, we may perceive that he did not derive any- 
thing from the doctrine of evolution, which is opposed to that belief. 
He made another observation which I think is worthy of remark, seeing 
that he is a man of science of whom most of us know something : he said 
“ If I believed science to be opposed to religion, I would give up all my 
scientific attainments, and would become the poorest minister of the poorest 
pulpit.” * (Applause.) 
Mr. Hastings C. Dent. — May I be allowed to mention one or two 
things that have occurred to me in connexion with this admirable paper ? 
On the second page the writer says, “ I have set before myself as a bind- 
ing canon, that in such studies we cannot accept facts too thankfully, 
test theories too rigorously, and arrive at conclusions too cautiously.” 
I think that that is a very important point, and one that should 
always be remembered, because the evolutionists bring forward probabilities, 
speculations, and hypotheses of every conceivable description. They prepare 
papers and lectures, of which we recently had an example, in which “ifs” 
and “may-bes” are advanced before long into “must-bes” and certainties. 
(Hear, hear.) On the fourth page there are some remarks on the immut- 
ability of species. This is a point which I consider one of great import- 
ance, and one which certainly appears to be, if anything can be, completely 
proved. For instance, we have in the Silurian rocks certain species and 
genera of crustaceans, which are represented by trilobites and ostropods. 
* Baron F. von Mueller, k.c.m.g., m.d., f.r.s., recently — September, 
1882 — concluded a lecture on the Flora of Australia with these words, 
to which he calls my attention. — Ed. “ Why should that Divine Power, 
which the most extreme scepticism must acknowledge as the beginning of 
all beginning, be ennarrowed, according to the glimpses of poor mortal souls 
in this our atom of world of worlds, to operations such as only be within 
mortal grasp 1 Why should any of us endeavour to reduce, what must be 
eternally sublime beyond all human conception, to simple formulas or 
calculable processes ? Sad would it be, were the final results of scientific 
striving to culminate in disputing away that consoling and trust-inspiring 
and elevating blessing which any mind imbued with piety must derive 
from the contemplation of Nature’s wonders ; it is thus that through 
worldly revelation we are allowed to perceive, though slight it may be, some 
of that grandeur of supernatural supremity, which happily for human 
existence is in its Godly fulness denied to mortal eye ! ” 
